In April of 2013, Meredith Legg Stapleton told me that although cancer had shown itself in her life, it did not define her.

“It’s not who I am; it’s just a piece of me,” she said. “I’m very faith-driven and having faith is everything. Getting through trials like this is just part of my purpose; my path.”

 

On Feb. 24, 2014, Stapleton’s battle with ocular melanoma ended when she went on to her heavenly home. She had already put the wheels in motion to share her faith.

 

“She said her illness was not a curse, but a blessing and asked if a book could be written,” said her mother, Robin Legg.

 

This week, author Steve Gordy visited Bridgeport, talking with those who knew Meredith in her early life, before her family relocated to Aiken, SC, where she became both a high school and college basketball standout and eventually married her high school sweetheart.

 

“I met with Shirley Brown and Rita Robbins, who taught at Bridgeport Middle School. Rita had also coached girls’ basketball. We spent about two and a half hours talking with them and a few other people and we looked at pictures of the championship basketball teams Meredith was on,” said Gordy, about the Lady Braves’ county titles in the early-2000s. “I also got to talk that afternoon with two friends from Meredith’s neighborhood, who both played a lot of pickup games with her and they stayed friends with her and in contact with her the rest of her life.”

 

Gordy has talked with many others who knew and were inspired by Meredith. He said he plans to spend another nine to 12 months doing research for the book, which after an original change in plans, he was asked to do the honors because of his first-hand knowledge about Meredith. 

 

 

“He knew her and followed her from Aiken, where she played ball, Robin said. “After she died, he paid for the rights to name the playground after her. (Read more HERE.). He was just so inspired by her.”

 

Meredith also attended and played basketball at Bridgeport High School before her family - Robin, Basil, Lyndsi and Trey - moved to Aiken. 

 

Meredith played at Hopewell High School, being the first inductee into the school's athletic hall of fame. After graduating in 2005, she attended the University of South Carolina on a basketball scholarship, making history as the women’s basketball career leading scorer. It was in 2009, during her senior year she was diagnosed with ocular melanoma, a rare cancer of the eye, which spread to her liver.

 

Meredith went on to gradute cum laude with a degree in business administration, thereafter hired as financial analyst for URS Corporation in Aiken and later becoming project analyst at HNTB Corporation in Charlotte, NC. 

 

She died at age 26 after a courageous fight; one that gained the attention of many. In preparing for his book, Gordy talked with a friend who took part in a bible study which Meredith started after her diagnosis.

 

“She said Meredith was very open and honest about it, not trying to hold anything back or ask for sympathy,” he said.

 

Gordy said he hears stories and comments about Meredith’s steadfast faith and joy for life from many he has talked with. He is looking for input from others who knew and were inspired by Meredith. Please send comments to him at steve.gordy@gmail.com or through his Web site steve@stevethewriter.com.

 

Gordy’s previously published books are “Tangled Woods and Dark Waters” (2017) and “Nights of Horseplay: Equine Fantasies from South Carolina’s Thoroughbred Country” (2013).  He is a member of the South Carolina’s Writers Association.

 

Gordy said Robin contacted him in the fall of 2017 about writing the book.

 

“I told her I would do it as a nonprofit endeavor,” he said. “Once production costs are covered, proceeds will used as the family wants.”

 

Robin said the money will be used to fund melanoma research.

 

“I’m praying that people will buy the book; one, because they knew her and two, to inspire others,” Robin said.

 

Read more about Meredith at https://meredithleggstapleton.com.

 

Read my prior blog about the retiring of Meredith's college basketball jersey HERE and a feature about her appearance on TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress" HERE.